What about Chondroitin Sulfate? Should I use it?Because of its large molecular size, the Chondroitin Sulfate found in most joint supplements is difficult for the body to absorb. What is fed must be digested into smaller pieces by the gut and the pieces that do get into the blood must be broken down further to get into the joints. As much as 70% of even the world's best Chondroitin Sulfate product (Cosequin) – which uses a proprietary patented process to reduce the molecular weight – passes through the system and ends up in the manure. If that much of the best chondroitin passes through the system, just imagine how much of the cheap products passes through.

Note: Manufacturers of products containing chondroitin often work overtime to "get results" by adding herbs or other masking agents. Remember, just because something is "all natural" to some plant, rock, or the earth does NOT make it "natural" or safe for the body!

What about Yucca?Yucca contains steroid saponins. These chemicals are related to the steroids. In the animal's body they decrease pain and inflammation. However, they also decrease the immune response, and steroids have been shown to slow the production of glycosaminoglycans (GAG's), which are a major component of joint tissues. Used daily, for a prolonged period of time, yucca can eventually cause joint degeneration. Furthermore, it is an herb, which is a plant-derived drug, and it is not natural to the body! No one knows how much or how long it takes to potentially cause problems within the body, and it may act or react differently in each individual, but we do know that steroids are bad, so why take any chances with any body you want to have in optimum health for numerous years?

Is there any difference between the different types of Glucosamine?Yes, absolutely! Studies have proven that only Glucosamine Sulphate 2KCl (Potassium Salt) and Glucosamine Sulphate NACl (Sodium Salt) actually get to the joint tissues. Glucosamine Sulphate is the basic building block of connective tissues and fluids. Studies have shown that when Glucosamine Sulphate is given orally, within 30 minutes, 87-97% is actively taken from the gut into the blood. Furthermore, within 4 hours, the chondrocytes (joint cells) have actively taken it from the blood. When linked together with sulfur, chains of glucosamines become several different types of connective tissues and joint fluid. (A lack of sulfur will cause the production of connective tissues to stop.) In addition, an enzyme can slightly change the shape of the glucosamine so that it is also the basic building block of the chondroitin sulfates.

Recent studies have shown that very little Glucosamine HCl gets into the joint tissue, yet many of the Glucosamine supplements you will find in national chain stores contain this form of Glucosamine rather than Glucosamine Sulphate. Glucosamine HCl does not contain a sulphur source and, therefore, has NO EFFECT on the body in that form. It is necessary for it to undergo changes before it can be used in connective tissues. The HCl must be removed and a sulphate added. Because of this, Glucosamine HCl is not sold by itself, but, rather, with other ingredients that provide the sulphur. One of the most popular things added to supplements that use Glucosamine HCl is Chondroitin Sulfate. The problem with Chondroitin Sulfate is that it has larger molecules, which affects how well it gets into the joints. Even with the best Chondroitin Sulfate on the market, as much as 70% ends up in the urine and feces.Furthermore, Glucosamine HCl is not stable in liquids. Published experiments have shown that over half of the Glucosamine HCl added to a liquid solution will breakdown within 27 hours. Within 4 days, these new and different "breakdown products" form completely different molecules that were 20 times larger than what was originally in the solution.

As for N-acetyl-glucosamine, it has been proven to have no active uptake from the gut, so it has no effectiveness in helping joint problems.

Can I give my horse too much Glucosamine or MSM?It you are using human grade ingredients – purified, with not other containments – no, you couldn't get your horse to eat enough to harm him. Understand that MSM has an anti-inflammatory effect after 10 grams (in the average horse). And too much glucosamine (of any variety) will pass through the system (sometimes causing diarrhea). As with anything being ingested, be reasonable and follow directions.

I'm presently using only MSM. Why should I use anything else?
MSM by itself has limited healing ability. It's biologically active sulfur. If the rest of the nutrients required to make the joints healthy aren't in the diet, the added MSM (by itself) offers limited benefit.

My vet told me to use Isoxiprien. How well does it work?
Isoxipren is the only NSAID that actually increases the blood flow. As a vascular dilator, if the nutrients required to heal the effected area don't exist in the diet or supplementation, then healing and improvement cannot occur. Because of this, Isoxiprien has about a 50% failure rate. Also, because of its composition as an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), it can block or inhibit the body's ability to use sulphur, which is vital to healthy joint tissue.

My farrier doesn't think any supplement will help my horse. What should I do?
Does your farrier specialize in the treatment of severe problems? Is your farrier a nutritionist? Although the farrier touches the horse more often than the veterinarian in most cases, and having a good farrier can actually help almost all hoof and joint related problems (as a bad farrier can in turn cause problems), the body's diet and supplementation shouldn't be controlled by a farrier.

Steroids and NSAID's may cause joints to deteriorate faster than if these drugs had not been used. These chemicals interfere with how tissues are made and how they heal. Since the pain is masked, they play a role in how the workload is divided among joints, slowing the healing and increasing the risk of further injury. Some of these drugs also decrease the joint's ability to use sulfur, which gives connective tissue its elastic strength.